The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde – King’s Head Theatre, London

Writer: Robert Louis Stevenson

Adaptor/Director: Jonny Kemp

Reviewer : Steve Turner

The Public Reviews Rating:

One night in October 1885, so the programme tells us, Robert Louis Stevenson ‘was dreaming a fine bogey tale’ which he turned into The Strange Case Of Dr Jekyll & Mr Hyde. In this production John O’Connor and Jonny Kemp have dreamt up a fabulously inventive retelling of this well known tale.

The action is set in the Ten Bells pub in Whitechapel, known for its links to the Ripper murders, where we meet Richard Mansfield, the actor responsible for the first adaptation of the novel for the theatre. From here the cast take us on an inspired journey through Stevenson’s novella using all manner of items from the pub to re-create dingy Victorian alleyways, train journeys from London to Scotland and back, Scottish mansions and a London doctor’s house.

The cast appear to be having as much fun with the continual set and prop changes as the audience are having watching them. The first act flashes past in a blur of activity on the stage which had the audience in fits of laughter, something quite unexpected given the story line.

Stevenson’s original could be said to have many themes: good versus evil, science versus God, repression versus expression and more, and these contrasts are illustrated by a dramatic shift of tone in act two. The levity of act one is replaced by the dark undertones of seedy Victorian London as the action begins to follow the original story more closely, and to replace the laughter from the audience in the first act, there are gasps of shock and surprise.

For a production as imaginative as this to succeed a strong cast is needed and this fine ensemble keep us hooked from beginning to end. William Hartley as Dr Jekyll manages to transform himself from a sniveling cowardly wimp, into the dashing yet terrifying Mr Hyde with aplomb, and is ably supported by Jennifer Bryden, Richard Latham and Arthur James.

With a nod towards Monty Python and a little League Of Gentlemen thrown into the mix, this is Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde as you’ve never seen them before…Highly recommended!